diff --git a/litellm/llms/lemonade/chat/transformation.py b/litellm/llms/lemonade/chat/transformation.py
index 168d51a16d8..95f39a5d55b 100644
--- a/litellm/llms/lemonade/chat/transformation.py
+++ b/litellm/llms/lemonade/chat/transformation.py
@@ -111,7 +111,11 @@ class LemonadeChatConfig(OpenAILikeChatConfig):
             or "http://localhost:8000/api/v1"
         )  # type: ignore
         # Lemonade doesn't check the key
-        key = "lemonade"
+        key = (
+            api_key
+            or get_secret_str("LEMONADE_API_KEY")
+            or "lemonade"
+        )
         return api_base, key
 
     def transform_response(